Aarts Productions, Inc. v. Crocker National Bank

• Decision Date: 11 April 1986
• Citation: 225 Cal.Rptr. 203,179 Cal.App.3d 1061
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: AARTS PRODUCTIONS, INC., Plaintiff and Appellant, v. CROCKER NATIONAL BANK, et al., Defendants and Respondents. H000601.

Page 203

225 Cal.Rptr. 203

179 Cal.App.3d 1061

AARTS PRODUCTIONS, INC., Plaintiff and Appellant, v. CROCKER NATIONAL BANK, et al., Defendants and Respondents.

H000601.

Court of Appeal, Sixth District, California.

April 11, 1986.

Certified for Partial Publication ^*

James J. Reilly, San Francisco, Paul J. Slavit, Wilson & Slavit, Oakland, for plaintiff and appellant.

Mary Lynne Thaxter, Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel, Inc., San Jose, for defendants and respondents.

AGLIANO, Acting Presiding Justice.

I

In this case we determine that defendants Crocker Bank and its employees are not liable for wrongful dishonor of checks drawn against an account when the bank complies with its account agreement when faced with conflicting demands by the signatories on the account. We accordingly affirm the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of defendants.

II Scope of Review

Since a summary judgment motion raises only questions of law regarding the construction and effect of the supporting and opposing papers, we independently review them on appeal, applying the same three-step analysis required of the trial court. (Code Civ.Proc., § 437c; LaRosa v. Superior Court (1981) 122 Cal.App.3d 741, 744-745, 176 Cal.Rptr. 224; Bonus-Bilt, Inc. v. United Grocers, Ltd. (1982) 136 Cal.App.3d 429, 432, 186 Cal.Rptr. 357.) First, we identify the issues framed by the pleadings since it is these allegations to which the motion must respond by establishing a complete defense or otherwise showing there is no factual basis for relief on any theory reasonably contemplated by the opponent's pleading. (Joslin v. Marin Mun. Water Dist. (1967) 67 Cal.2d 132, 148-149, 60 Cal.Rptr. 377, 429 P.2d 889; Canifax v. Hercules Powder Co. (1965) 237 Cal.App.2d 44, 50, 46 Cal.Rptr. 552; Tresemer v. Barke (1978) 86 Cal.App.3d 656, 666, 150 Cal.Rptr. 384.)

Secondly, we determine whether the moving party's showing has established facts which negate the opponent's claim and justify a judgment in movant's favor. (Gardenswartz v. Equitable etc. Soc. (1937) 23 Cal.App.2d Supp. 745, 751, 753-754, 68 P.2d 322; Kimber v. Jones (1954) 122 Cal.App.2d 914, 919, 265 P.2d 922; Rowland v. Christian (1968) 69 Cal.2d 108, 111, 70 Cal.Rptr. 97, 443 P.2d 561, and cases there cited.) The motion must stand self-sufficient and cannot succeed because the opposition is weak. (de Echeguren v. de Echeguren (1962) 210 Cal.App.2d 141, 147-149, 26 Cal.Rptr. 562, and cases there cited; Rowland v. Christian, supra, 69 Cal.2d at p. 111, 70 Cal.Rptr. 97, 443 P.2d 561.) A party cannot succeed without disproving even those claims on which the opponent would have the burden of proof at trial. (Barnes v. Blue Haven Pools (1969) 1 Cal.App.3d 123, 127, 81 Cal.Rptr. 444; Miller v. Metzinger (1979) 91 Cal.App.3d 31, 42, 154 Cal.Rptr. 22; Conn v. National Can Corp. (1981) 124 Cal.App.3d 630, 638-640, 177 Cal.Rptr. 445.)

When a summary judgment motion prima facie justifies a judgment, the third and final step is to determine whether the opposition demonstrates the existence of a triable, material factual issue. (Walsh v. Walsh (1941) 18 Cal.2d 439, 441-442, 116 P.2d 62, and cases there cited.) Counter-affidavits and declarations need not prove the opposition's case; they suffice if they disclose the existence of a triable issue. (Saporta v. Barbagelata (1963) 220 Cal.App.2d 463, 475, 33 Cal.Rptr. 661; Orser v. George (1967) 252 Cal.App.2d 660, 669, 60 Cal.Rptr. 708; Jack v. Wood (1968) 258 Cal.App.2d 639, 648, 65 Cal.Rptr. 856; Johnson v. Canadian Transport Co. (1976) 54 Cal.App.3d 827, 834, 127 Cal.Rptr. 72.) A court generally cannot resolve questions about a declarant's credibility in a summary judgment proceeding (Saporta, supra, 220 Cal.App.2d at p. 474, 33 Cal.Rptr. 661; Fisher v. Larsen (1982) 138 Cal.App.3d 627, 634, 188 Cal.Rptr. 216), unless admissions against interest have been made which justify disregard of any dissimulation. (Gray v. Reeves (1977) 76 Cal.App.3d 567, 573-574, 142 Cal.Rptr. 716, and cases there cited.) A sufficient motion cannot be successfully resisted by counter-declarations which create immaterial factual conflicts outside the scope of the pleadings; counter-declarations are no substitute for amended pleadings. (Craig v. Earl (1961) 194 Cal.App.2d 652, 656, 15 Cal.Rptr. 207; Vanderbilt Growth Fund, Inc. v. Superior Court (1980) 105 Cal.App.3d 628, 635-636, 164 Cal.Rptr. 621, and cases there cited.)

III The Pleaded Issues

Plaintiff AARTS Productions, Inc., assignee of AARTS Productions, alleged four causes of action against defendants Crocker National Bank and its employees, Julia Clauser and G.M. Atkins. The first cause of action alleged wrongful dishonor of several checks drawn on the association's account to pay its creditors. The second alleged the bank refused to allow plaintiff's assignors to make any withdrawals of almost $15,000 in the association's checking account. The third charged both these derelictions as a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The fourth alleged conversion in that the bank had refused to deposit or return a cashier' check for $314.30 made out to the association. Punitive damages were sought on each cause of action.

IV

A. The Undisputed Facts

In November 1981, a checking account was opened in the name of AARTS, later changed to AARTS Productions, an unincorporated association. As of April 28, 1982, there were four authorized signators on the account, William Johnson, Richard Williams, Mustafa Ansari, and Twyla Utley. The account agreement provided in part: "The Bank may ... (c) if given conflicting certifications or demands, either deposit the balance in court or withhold payment from the account pending the joint order or receipt of all parties or an appropriate court order determining those authorized to sign, ..."

On July 28, 1982, Twyla Utley requested the bank on association letterhead as its treasurer to honor no more checks drawn on this account because the checkbook was stolen. By letter dated August 27, 1982, Robert Landry, an attorney for Utley, notified the bank to confirm her request to freeze the association account and honor no checks due to pending litigation involving the account. On September 7, the bank offered to release all association funds to all signers of the account if they would receive them together. All but Twyla Utley refused this offer.

The bank subsequently filed a separate action in interpleader, depositing the association's funds in court, and it was discharged from said action by stipulation of all parties.

Within a week to a month after Utley's first notice was sent to the bank, the other signators, Johnson, Williams, and Ansari, informed the bank the checkbook had not been stolen, and demanded the bank honor checks drawn on the account. The bank dishonored several checks thereafter.

B. The Law on Wrongful Dishonor and Breach of the Implied Covenant

Plaintiff concedes the bank's interpleader of the association's funds justifies the summary judgment on the second cause of action for recovery of the account, but insists there was wrongful dishonor.

"A payor bank is liable to its customer for damages proximately caused by the wrongful dishonor of an item. When the dishonor occurs through mistake liability is limited to actual damages proved." (Cal.U.Com.Code, § 4402.) The issue here is whether the dishonor was wrongful. The bank contends the signature agreement authorized it in case of conflicting demands to withhold payment from the account pending a court order or joint order of the signatories. Plaintiff does not seriously contend otherwise, but argues the agreement must be read in light of the relevant provisions of the Financial Code.

"When the depositor of a commercial or savings account has authorized any person to make withdrawals from the account, the bank, in the absence of written notice otherwise, may assume that any check, receipt, or order of withdrawal drawn by such person in the authorized form or manner, including checks drawn to his personal order and withdrawal orders payable to him personally, was drawn for a purpose authorized by the depositor and within the scope of the authority conferred upon such person." (Fin.Code, § 953.) Plaintiff argues this section allows it to assume checks would be paid, but defendants point out an exception when there is "written notice otherwise." ¹ The written notices received by the bank allowed it to question the ostensible authority of the presenter of a check or withdrawal demand.

Plaintiff's main argument is the bank was required to ignore Utley's notices under Financial Code section 952, which states: "Notice to any bank of an adverse claim (the person making such adverse claim being hereinafter called 'adverse claimant') to a deposit standing on its books to the credit of or to personal property held for the account of any person shall be disregarded, and the bank, notwithstanding such notice, shall honor the checks, notes, or other instruments requiring payment of money by or for the account of the person to whose credit the account stands and on demand shall deliver any such property to, or on the order of, the person for whose account such property is held, without any liability on the part of the bank; subject, however, to the exceptions provided in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this section: [p] (a) If an adverse claimant delivers to the bank at the office at which the deposit is carried or at which the property is held his affidavit stating that of his own knowledge the person to whose credit the deposit stands or for whose account the property is held is a fiduciary for the adverse claimant and that he has reason to believe such fiduciary is about to misappropriate the deposit or the property, and stating the facts on which such claim of fiduciary relationship and such belief are founded, the bank shall refuse payment of the deposit and shall refuse to deliver such property for a period of...